Meaning of ABERDEEN, GEORGE HAMILTON-GORDON, 4TH EARL OF in English

ABERDEEN, GEORGE HAMILTON-GORDON, 4TH EARL OF

born Jan. 28, 1784, Edinburgh, Scot.

died Dec. 14, 1860, London, Eng.

British foreign secretary and prime minister (185255).

As special ambassador to Austria in 1813, he helped form the coalition that defeated Napoleon . As foreign secretary (182830, 184146), he settled boundary disputes between Canada and the U.S. with the Webster-Ashburton Treaty and the Oregon Treaty (see Oregon Question ). As prime minister, he formed a coalition government, but his indecision hampered peacekeeping efforts and led to Britain's involvement in the Crimean War . Constitutionally responsible for the mistakes of British generals in the war, he resigned in 1855.